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FROI^TISPIEC E 
 
 
 
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GROTESQUE ARCHITECTURE ; 
 
 OR, 
 
 MUM^L. ^MUSEMEJVTs 
 
 CONSISTING OF 
 
 PLANS, ELEVATIONS, AND SECTIONS, 
 
 HUTS, RETREATS, SUMMER AND WINTER HERMITAGES, 
 
 TERM IN ARIES, 
 
 CHINESE, GOTHIC, AND NATURAL GROTTOS, 
 
 CASCADES, BATHS, MOSQUES, MORESQUE PAVILIONS, 
 
 GROTESQUE AND RUSTIC SEATS, GREEN-HOUSES, &c. 
 
 Many of which may he executed with 
 
 Flints, Irregular Stones, Rude Branches, and 
 Roots of Trees. 
 
 THE WHOLE CONTAINING 
 
 TWENTY-EIGHT NEW DESIGNS, 
 
 WITH SCALES TO EACH. 
 
 TO WHICH IS ADDED, 
 
 AK EXPLAJ^ATIOJ^, 
 WITH THE METHOD OF EXECUTING THEM. 
 
 By WILLIAM WRIGHTE, Architect 
 
 A NEW EDITION. 
 
 LONDON : 
 
 Printed hy JV. Stratford, Crown-Court, Temple-Bar ; for 
 
 J. TAYLOR, 
 
 AT THE ARCUITECTUBAL LIBRARY, JJO. 59, HIGH HOLBORN. 
 
 1815. 
 
GROTESQUE ARCHITECTURE. 
 
 PLATE I. 
 
 PLAN and elevation of a hut, to be built with trunks of 
 trees and irregular timber. The inside walls may be 
 lined with moss, and covered on the top with thatch. It is 
 intended to represent the primitive state of the Doric Order, 
 and is proper to be placed at the entrance of a wood, or on 
 the top of a small eminence. The dimensions are figured 
 on the plan. 
 
 PLATE IL 
 
 Plan and elevation of an hermetic retreat, to be composed 
 of roots and irregular branches of trees, cemented together 
 with a strong binding clay, and maybe thatched or covered 
 with branches of trees twined round with ivy. The dimen- 
 sions are figured on the plan. 
 
 PLATE IIL 
 
 Elevation of an hermit's cell, with rustic seats attached, 
 eight feet square in the inside, which should be situated in 
 a rising wood near some running water, to be built partly of 
 large stones and trunks of trees, set round with ivy, and 
 lined with rushes, &c. The roof should be covered with 
 thatch, and the floor paved with small pebble stones or 
 cockle shells. The seats attached are intended to be com- 
 posed of large irregular stones, roots of trees, &c. 
 
 PLATE IV. 
 
 Plan and elevation for an hermitage, in the eastern style, 
 supposed to be built round a tree which supports its ro(.'i"; 
 over the door is a tablet, with an Arabic inscription; ti.- 
 roof is covered with thatch, in the Chinese taste ; the insi<i<- 
 to be lined with billet wood and moss. It is lighted from 
 the lanterns above. A. should be a couch ; B. C. are se;i(s 
 of retirement. The dimensions are figured in the plan. Th' 
 rustic seats on the side are intended to be comjjosed of" laige 
 rough stones and roots of pollard trees cemented touetli'-r. 
 
 PLArr. 
 
PLATE V. 
 
 Plan and elevation of a winter hermitage, intended as a 
 retirement from hunting, fowling, or any other winter amuse- 
 ment; the walls to be built of flints or rough stones, and 
 lined with wood or other warm substance intermixed with 
 moss, and should be situated on a rising ground planted 
 with evergreens. 
 
 PLATE VL 
 
 Plan and elevation of a summer hermitage, designed to be 
 in a wilderness or thick wood; the walls to be composed of 
 large stones, and the ends faced with flints ; the roof covered 
 with thatch, and an owl carved on the top ; the floor should 
 be paved with sheeps marrow-bones placed upright, or any 
 other pretty device intermixed witii them. A. is for a couch ; 
 B. C. are seats of retirement. 
 
 PLATE VIL 
 
 Plan and elevation of an hermitage in the Augustine style; 
 the front is ornamented with a portico of palm trees; in the 
 pediment is a scull, and a tablet with an inscription. A. A. 
 are passages of evergreens leading to the two circular re- 
 treats, one of which is intended as a library, and the other 
 a bath ; the tops of them are intended to be thatched ; 
 b b b. are niches for seats cut in the evergreens. This design 
 is calculated to be built on a small verdant amphitheatre, 
 near a murmuring stream, and as a proper retreat from 
 the fatigues of a sultry day. 
 
 PLATE VIII. 
 
 A plan, half an elevation, and half a section, of a rural 
 circular hermitage, designed for an open situation near sonxe 
 rivulet, planted with weeping willows, &c. The inside is 
 lighted by a gazebo, supported by eight trunks of trees 
 twined about with ivy. The dimensions are figured on the 
 plan. 
 
 PLATE IX. 
 
 Plan, elevation, and section, of a grotto in a modern 
 architectonic style, ornamented with jet d'eaux, seaweeds, 
 lookmg-glass, fountains, and other grotesque decorations. 
 The dimensions may be known. by the scale and the figures 
 on the plan. 
 
 PLATE X. 
 
 Plan and elevation of a Gothic grotto, with four closets 
 five feet square; the outside to be composed of flints and 
 irregular stones, and studded with small pebbles; the inside 
 to be ornamented v. ith shells, ores, &c. and if built upon an 
 eminence, it would have a very pleasing appearance. 
 
 PLATE 
 
PLATE XL 
 
 Plan and elevation of an open Chinese grotto, to be placed 
 at the head of a grand canal, with a bath (A), and a Chinese 
 temple (B), attached ; the arcades to be ice or frosted work ; 
 the outside of the bath and temple to be ornamented with 
 beautiful shells in the Mosaic taste ; the inside to be groined 
 over, as on the plan, and ornamented with shell-work and 
 Other beautiful incrustations. I'he whole extent is 7o feet. 
 
 PLATE XIL 
 
 Plan and measures to plate xiii. and xiv. 
 
 PLATE XIIL 
 
 Elevation of a Gothic grotto, with cascades and wings 
 attached (see the plan^ plale xii.) The entrance is a saloon 
 of 20 feet square j the angles are couped with off niches, 
 where grotesque statues or vases should be placed. It is 
 intended to have a fountain in the centre, with antique figures 
 spouting out water; the walls should be lined with flints, 
 decorated with ice-work; the whole is lighted from a gazebo 
 on the top. A. B. are the plans of the two wings or reposi- 
 tories, which are each descended to by a flight of four steps. 
 A. is intended to be ornamented with curious shells, gems, 
 coral, &c. with statues in the niches. B. is to be groined 
 over in the Gothic manner, with a pier in the centre to be 
 lined with flints, intermixed with shells, looking-glass, &c. 
 The groins should be incrusted with frosted work, in the 
 manner of dropping icicles. Both these wings are lighted 
 from the rose arches, as appears in the elevation; the outside 
 to be composed of rough stones incrusted and studded with 
 pebbles, shells, &,c. There are placed in the recesses Gothic 
 figures. The situation should be in some retired copse, 
 shaded by an adjacent hill, near some murmuring rivulet, 
 where the cascades, or rather fountains, as in the design, 
 may be easily etTected. The measures are marked on the 
 plan. 
 
 PLATE XIV. 
 
 Elevation of a rural grotto [see the plan, plale xii.) which 
 should be built of large rough stones rudely put together, so 
 that the buildingmay as near as possible imitate the beautiful 
 appearance of nature. If the dome was to be richly orna- 
 mented with pendentive shell and frosted work, it would 
 look very elegant. In the middle niche is Neptune on a 
 rock, pouring out water, which descends under the pave- 
 ment through an arch, and forms a running stream. The side 
 niches are ornamented withsatyrs and other grotesque figures. 
 The situation should be in a morass, near some water. 
 
 PLATE 
 
6 
 
 PLATE XV. 
 
 A design for a cascade or cataract of a great fall of 
 water, decorated with rock-work, sea lions pouring out 
 fountains of water j and a triton by way of embellishment, 
 in the centre. 
 
 PLATE XVL 
 
 A design for a triumphal cascade of four falls of water. If 
 care is taken to erect this arch with rude and irregular flints, 
 &c. at the same time paying a due observance to nature, it 
 will have a very magnificent appearance, and look ex- 
 tremely elegant ; and would be a superb ornament in a 
 nobleman's park where there is a great supply of water. 
 
 PLATE XVIL 
 
 A grotto, canal, and cascade, decorated with rock-worfc, 
 tritons, sybils, &c. pouring forth fountains of water. The 
 author hopes he may be indulged with observing, tbat he 
 hath with great pleasure seen a fine piece of water in the 
 park of the Earl of Essex^ at Cashiobury, near Watford, 
 Herts i and flatters himself, that if the arch in this design, 
 on which the triton is placed, was to be executed there in 
 the nature of a bridge, it would have a very magnificent 
 and pleasing appearance, 
 
 PLATE XVIIL 
 
 A romra-itic bridge, or a cascade of three sheets of water, 
 descendmg through arches of artificial rock-work, incrusted 
 with shells, corals, sea-weed, moss, &c. and two sea gods 
 lying on their oozy couch, pouring out water. 
 
 PLATE XIX. 
 
 Plan and elevation of a rustic seat for a garden or park, 
 intended to terminate a view. It would look very pretty if 
 it was built with fliiits, or irregular rude branches "^and roots 
 of trees. 
 
 PLATE XX. 
 
 Plan and elevation for a grotesque or rural bath, very 
 proper to be built in gardens, &c. for the benefit of bathing. 
 it is intended to have three seats within, by way of closets, 
 for the convenience of dressing and undressing. If the water 
 m the plan be left out, it will look very pleasing as a rural 
 Imt. 
 
 PLATE XXL 
 
 Plan and elevation of a rural mosque with minarets. It 
 isdivided into an octagon saloon, supported by eight columns, 
 lighted from the dome. The other apartments are four re- 
 gular small rooms or closets, which will serve for various 
 
 purposes. 
 
purposes. The minarets are placed in the plan by way of 
 ornament, to shew the true taste of the Turkish builclin"'s; 
 and the singularity of the style of architecture is such, that 
 will render it a very pleasing ornament, if executed in a 
 pleasure ground, or upon an elevated verdant amphitheatre- 
 It may be built of wood, and stuccoed ; the inside should be 
 painted with various rich colours, which would have a pleas- 
 ing and elegant appearance. The dome is supported by 
 irregular branches of trees, well connected and cramped to- 
 gether. The minarets should be solid, and the pedestals 
 (A.B.) should be decorated with Arabic inscriptions. For 
 a more intelligible and historical account of these buildings, 
 I must refer the reader to Dr. Shaza's Account of Barbara, 
 Le BruH and Tournefort's Voyage to the Levauty &cc. 
 
 PLATE XXII. 
 
 Plan and elevation of a circular mosque twenty feet dia- 
 meter, with four cabinets attached, eight feet square ; two 
 of which may serve for entrances, having each a small foun- 
 tain, five feet diameter; the other two may be for the pur- 
 poses of study or use. The four minarets at the angles bring 
 the plan upon the square of forty feet. The cabinets, as well 
 as the mosque, are crowned with domes, which should be 
 gilt on the outside. The great dome is supported by eight 
 columns, ov«r which are groined arches; an iron balustrade 
 runs round the outside, which may be painted blue, and 
 gilt; on the top of the great dome is a light cupola, sup- 
 ported by eight small columns, from whence hangs a chan- 
 delier to light the inside when required. The other decora- 
 rations may be seen in the section, plate xxiv. 
 
 PLATE XXIIL 
 
 Plan and elevation for another mosque, with two minarets 
 attached to the body of the building, which may beexecuted 
 in brick of 14 inches thickness. The front is a portico of 
 four columns, in the oriental style, in the centre of which 
 is a fountain for sabateons; which may be seen in the sec- 
 tion, plate xxiv. The niches in the front should have Arabic 
 inscriptions in gold letters. The portico is covered with 
 three little domes, in the Turkish manner, ornamented with 
 crescents, &c. The inside is lighted from the circular win- 
 dows and little arches above, which support the dome. For 
 the interior decoration, see the section, plate xxiv. It 
 would look very beautiful if built on an open lawn, planted 
 round with a few cypress or other exotic trees. The dimen- 
 sions are figured on the plan. 
 
 PLATE 
 
s 
 
 PLATE XXIV. 
 
 Sections and scales to plates xxii. and xxiii. 
 
 PLATE XXV. 
 
 Two plans of nioresque temples to plates xxvi, and xxviL 
 tV'ith their proper measures. 
 
 PLATE XXVL 
 
 Elevation of a beautiful moresque temple {see the plarty 
 plate XXV.) The coupled columns support an arcade of in- 
 tersecting semi-ellipses, which goes quite round the temple. 
 In the spandrells are Moors heads, with crescents, roses, 
 and stars, over which is a parapet balustrade of net or lat- 
 tice-work. The body of the temple is 20 feet diameter, 
 crowned with an open lantern, from whence it is lighted^ 
 the outside of which is adorned with stars of glass of an 
 azure ground. On the top is a pine, which should be double 
 gilt; and if the outside was covered with a glossy substance, 
 it would have a very pleasing and magnificent appearance. 
 The style of architecture is a medium between the Chinese 
 and Gothic, having neither the levity of the former nor the 
 gravity of the latter. The particularities of both this and 
 the following design are taken from those famous remains of 
 barbarian antiquity, the palace of Alhamhray at Granada, 
 the ancient moresque mosque at Cordova^ the old cassavee 
 or palace of the Mooj^ish kings at Mceqiianez ; for the ac- 
 counts of which the reader is referred to WilLiighbiii/s Tra- 
 vels into Spam, Ockley's Account of South or West Bar- 
 bariji and Shazv's Travels to the Levant. 
 
 PLATE XXVIL 
 
 Elevation of a moresque pavilion (^ee the plan, plate xxv.) 
 in the style of the ancient Moors, raised on three steps. 
 Over the arches axe Moors heads and festoons. In the middle 
 is a circular or geometrical staircase, leading to the top, or 
 balustrade. It is crowned with a square cupola, mounted 
 v\'ith a moresque standard ; and is very proper to be built on 
 an eminence to command an extensive view. 
 
 PLATE XXVm. 
 
 Plan and elevation for a green-house of the grotesque 
 kind, faced with flints and irregular stones. The dimensions 
 may be found by the scale. 
 
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